Air filtration module for coated seed planters

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an air filtration module for seed planters. The filtration module includes a filter cartridge with a filter media disposed therein. The cartridge is sized and shaped to fit into the stock seed hopper. The filter media is configured to filter out and contain particles of seed coating materials that contain neonicotinoids and/or other airborne contaminants. The filter cartridge can replace the porous seed container wall through which compressed air is discharged out the seed hopper air discharge vent.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/273,101, filed on May 8, 2014, which claims the prioritybenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/835,868, filed on Jun.17, 2013, and both of which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

FIELD

The invention relates to the planting of coated seeds, and moreparticularly to, filtering and containment of particulates that rub offinsecticide-treated seeds that become airborne when discharged from anagricultural production planting unit such as a seed planter.

BACKGROUND

In the past, insecticides and other chemicals were applied by foliar andground application on top of the soil. This method of applicationresulted in the expensive insecticides, herbicides and fungicides whichexposed farmers to hazardous chemicals, and encouraged over application.Certain compounds became airborne and detrimental to the habitat,including beneficial insects, like bees, that are needed to pollinatecorn, soybeans and other agriculturally grown food products.

More recently, over 90% of the corn and 80% of the seeds planted to growsoybeans are being directly treated with a coating of insecticide andfungicide that extend the time that the seeds can be in the groundbefore insects and fungus keeps them from germinating. One commoncomponent of these conventional seed chemical coatings is aneonicotinoid insecticide.

These current seed coating products have reduced the amount of cropprotection products that need to be spray applied to a crop. Inaddition, this has reduced the amount of labor that is needed which hasencouraged aggressive growers to farm more land. Seed coating treatmentshave increased soybean and corn yields, reduced costs and produced moreabundant and cheaper food.

There is now a belief by some that the neonicotinoids in the currentwidely used seed coatings are causing bee colony collapse disorder whenthe coating chemical compounds form particulates and become airborneduring the planting process due to the utilization of forced air to movethe seeds through the planting apparatus. This is an important concernsince bees are necessary to pollinate many crops. The European Unionbecame so concerned about the detrimental effects of neonicotinoidinsecticide particulates becoming airborne that they have enacted a 2year ban on seed treatment products that contain three pesticidesbelonging to the neonicotinoids family (clothianidin, imidacloprid andthiametoxam).

FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate a conventional wheeled seed planterapparatus 10. Coated seeds are usually loaded into a bulk seed tank.From the main bulk seed tank the seed is forced by air through a seriesof flexible tubes before it enters the seed hopper box 12. The seedhopper box 12 also includes a cover 14. A compressed air discharge head16 is coupled to the hopper box 12. Seed is moved from the bulk seedtank to the seed hopper box 12 via the compressed air discharge head 16.A porous seed container wall or screen 18 is disposed inside of the mainhopper 12 to allow the compressed air to move through the bulk seed tankand vibrate the seeds in the seed hopper box 12 forward to the seed tubeand discharge chute 24. The compressed air discharge chute 20 portion ofthe seed hopper 12 allows the forced air to escape. A planter may havemultiple laterally-disposed seed hoppers 12 for planting several rows ofseeds at one time.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 through 4, a film of seed coating material(including neonicotinoids, fungicides, etc.) 22 will typically form allover the seed hopper 12 and the air discharge chute 24. Due to the largenumber of seed hoppers that a given modern planter may have (e.g. 24 or36 hoppers) a considerable volume of suspected poisonous material isintroduced into the surrounding atmosphere due the particulates of seedcoating escaping from the seed hopper 12 on every row of the planter.

There is, thus, a need for a product that greatly reduces the aircontamination caused by neonicotinoids/other chemical dust vibrating offseeds, becoming airborne and blowing into the environment.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is an air filtration module for seed planters. The filtrationmodule includes a filter cartridge with a filter media disposed therein.The cartridge is sized and shaped to fit into the stock seed hopper. Thefilter media is configured to filter out and contain particles of seedcoating materials that contain neonicotinoids and/or other contaminatesfrom entering the air. The filter cartridge can replace the porous seedcontainer wall or screen through which compressed air is discharged outthe seed hopper air discharge vent.

The disclosure also includes an air filter assembly for seed hoppers ofseed planters. The assembly comprises a filter cartridge and a filtermedia disposed within the interior space of the cartridge. The filtercartridge comprises a front wall defining a plurality of aperturesdefined therein, a rear wall defining a plurality of apertures definedtherein, a first solid end wall spanning between the front wall and therear wall, a second solid end wall opposing the first solid end wall andspanning between the rear wall and the front wall and a solid bottomside spanning between the front wall, the rear wall, the first solid endand the second solid end. The top end is located opposite the solidbottom side by the intersection of the front wall, the rear wall, thefirst solid end and the second solid end. The interior space is definedby the intersections of the front wall, the rear wall, the first solidend, the second solid end, the solid bottom side and the top end. Afirst channel is defined in the first solid end wall which intersectsthe bottom side and extends towards the top end. A second channel isdefined in the second solid end wall which intersects the bottom sideand extends towards the top end.

The disclosure further includes an air filter assembly for seed hoppersof seed planters, comprising a filter cartridge and a filter mediadisposed within the interior space of the filter cartridge. The filtercartridge comprises a bottom surface including a plurality of aperturesdefined therein, a solid and continuous side wall extending upwardlyfrom the bottom surface around a perimeter of the bottom surface, and atop side defined opposite the bottom surface by the side wall. Aninterior space is defined by the intersections of the bottom surface,side wall and the top side. A first flange extends outwardlyhorizontally from a portion of the side wall where the side wallintersects with the top side.

The disclosure also includes a method of reducing neonicotinoidemissions from seed planters. The method comprises removing a top coverof a seed hopper of a seed planter. A filter cartridge is inserted intoa portion of the interior of the seed hopper. The cartridge isconfigured to direct airflow within the hopper through the cartridge.The original airflow in the seed box is not diverted in anyway, it justpasses through the cartridge that contains the media. A filter media isinserted within an interior space of the filter cartridge where theairflow within the hopper traverses the filter media. The top cover ofthe seed hopper is replaced. The seed hopper is operated to plant seeds.Particles of seed coating containing neonicotinoids are captured by thefilter media from the airstream within the hopper.

The above summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention,or describe each embodiment, aspect, implementation, feature oradvantage of the invention. The detailed technology and preferredembodiments for the subject invention are described in the followingparagraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in thisfield to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. It isunderstood that the features mentioned hereinbefore and those to becommented on hereinafter may be used not only in the specifiedcombinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional wheeled seed planter showingcertain details thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an opened seed box showing the hopperair discharge chute contaminated with seed coating particulates thathave vibrated off the seeds.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of an opened seed box showing thehopper air discharge vent contaminated with seed coating particulatesthat have vibrated off the seeds.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the underside of the seed hopper showingcontamination with seed coating particulates that have vibrated off theseeds.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of a filter cartridge according tocertain embodiments.

FIG. 7A is a bottom view of a filter cartridge according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 7B is a front view of a filter cartridge according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 7C is a side view of a filter cartridge according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 7D is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a filter cartridge with a filter mediapartially inserted into the cartridge according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 9 is another perspective view of a filter cartridge with a filtermedia partially inserted into the cartridge according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a conventional seed hopper.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the seed hopper of FIG. 10 with the top coverremoved.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the seed hopper with top cover removed of FIG.11 with a filter cartridge disposed in the hopper according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 14 is another perspective view of a filter cartridge according tocertain embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a further perspective view of a filter cartridge according tocertain embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a filter cartridge with filter mediadisposed therein according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a conventional seed hopper.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the seed hopper of FIG. 17 with the topcover removed and the separator screen partially removed.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the seed hopper of FIG. 18 with afilter cartridge partially disposed in the hopper according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the seed hopper of FIG. 18 with afilter cartridge fully disposed in the hopper according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 21 is a top view of the seed hopper with a filter cartridge of FIG.20 with the top cover partially replaced according to certainembodiments.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a filter cartridge according to certainembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following descriptions, the present invention will be explainedwith reference to various example embodiments. Nevertheless, theseexample embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention toany specific example, environment, application, or particularimplementation described herein. Therefore, descriptions of theseexample embodiments are only provided for purpose of illustration ratherthan to limit the present invention. The invention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims. Dimensions andproportions of the various components can be varied without departingfrom the scope of the invention, unless specifically recited as limitingin a given claim.

This invention reduces the potential harmful environmental impact thatneonicotinoid containing particulates, and other particulatedsubstances, have by filtering out the seed coating particulates from theplanter's discharge airstream. The invention can be applied toconventional seed planter devices that use an air-driven seed deliverysystem.

One object and advantage of the present invention is that substantiallyall seed coating particulates, including the harmful neonicotinoids, arefiltered out and contained in the cartridge rather than being dischargedinto the atmosphere. An object and advantage of certain embodiments isthat the filter cartridge can be disposed in existing seed planterapparatuses. An object and advantage of certain embodiments is that aseed box includes a filter cartridge to remove seed coatingparticulates. Another object and advantage of certain embodiments isthat the filter cartridge, or the filter media in the cartridge, iseasily replaceable in the field. Another object and advantage of thepresent invention is that chemicals that are effective for growingcrops, but potentially harmful to the environment and wildlife, cancontinue to be used because the particulates containing the harmfulchemicals are not released into the environment. Another objective is toallow growers to maintain their current management practices which isvital because of a shortage of labor in rural America. Finally, theinvention helps farmers continue to produce abundant food crops.

Referring to FIGS. 5-9 and 12-16, the filter module 100 comprises afilter housing or cartridge 102 and a filter media 104 disposed in thecartridge. The filter cartridge 102 is configured to fit inside ofvarious shapes and sizes of existing seed hoppers without the need tomodify the hopper.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-9, the conventional separation screen 18shown in FIGS. 3-4 is replaced with the filter cartridge 102. In thisembodiment, the cartridge 102 generally comprises a rectangular box withan open top side. The front 106 and rear 108 walls define a plurality ofapertures 110 therein to permit air to flow into and through thecartridge 102. The end walls 112, 114 and the bottom side 116 are eachsolid surfaces. An interior space 118 is defined by the front, rear,bottom and end walls.

The filter media 104 is sized and shaped to be disposed within theinterior space 118 via the open top side. The open top permits thefilter media to be easily accessed and replaced. The top cover of thehopper adequately covers the open top side of the cartridge 102 andmedia 104 so that the filter media 104 is retained in place. Thecartridge 102 can include a retaining lip 119 extending horizontallyinward from one or more top edges to help hold the filter media 102 inplace.

In alternative embodiments, the top side of the cartridge is permanentlyclosed, or can have a removable cartridge cover. If closed, the entirecartridge is to be swapped out, rather than being able to just changethe filter media.

This arrangement of solid walls and apertures as described herein causesthe air to flow across the filter media, thereby removing particulatesfrom the air stream. The air exiting the hopper include has been foundto achieve a substantial (e.g. 67%) reduction in neonicotinoidcontaining particles that would otherwise have become airborne withoutthe present invention. The filter media meets ASHARE standards. Incertain embodiments, the filter media can be MERV 8 media that satisfiesthe standard ASHARE 52.2.2007 and is UL rated 900.

In order to secure the cartridge in place within the hopper in thisembodiment, the end walls 112, 114 and the bottom side 116 each define arecessed channel 120. The protruding flange 21 inside of the hopper(shown in FIGS. 2-3) that previously held the screen 18 in place is nowinserted into the respective portions of the channel 120 of thecartridge 102 as the cartridge is disposed into the hopper with avertical motion. The screen 18 is no longer used. The hopper top cover14 is replaced and then the seed planter is ready to be used to plantseeds.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 12-16, the filter cartridge 102 is shapeddifferently because it is adapted to the particular seed hopper 12configuration shown. In the previous embodiment, the airflow directionwas horizontal. However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 10-16, the airflowis vertical. Here, the top cover 14 of the hopper 12 in FIG. 10 (thelower right rectangular structure) is removed to expose the hopperinterior as shown in FIG. 11. The cartridge 102 is set down into theopen top of the hopper 12 as shown in FIG. 12 and the filter media 104is disposed in the cartridge 102 as shown in FIG. 16. Then the normalhopper lid 14 is then put back into place to seal the hopper 12.

The cartridge in this embodiment comprises a bottom surface 122 defininga plurality of apertures 124. The apertures 124 permit the vertical flowof air across the filter media. The four side walls 126, 128, 130, and132 are solid and define a continuous wall to prevent air from flowingin the horizontal direction. The top side of the cartridge is open. Thewalls and bottom surface together define an interior region 133 forreceiving the filter media.

A first flange 134 extends horizontally from the top edge of one of theside walls to enclose any remaining opening in the top of the hopper sothat air cannot flow around the filter media; the air must flow throughthe filter media. A support rib 136 (or a plurality of support ribs) canrun under the flange 134 to provide rigidity or support to the flange134.

A second flange 138 extends from a top edge of an opposing side wall toengage a top perimeter of the hopper. The first 134 and second 138flanges maintain the cartridge inside of the hopper in a suspendedposition adjacent the top cover. Additional suspending flanges can beprovided to the other side walls as well. The side wall perimeter shapeof the cartridge and the first flange can be configured to conform tothe interior shape of the particular hopper into which the cartridgewill be installed. Likewise, the filter media 104 can be shaped to fitwithin the interior 133 of the cartridge 102.

The cartridge can be formed of any suitable material, such as paper,plastic, rubber or metal, or a combination of materials. In oneembodiment, the cartridge can be formed of rigid plastic by a moldingoperation.

When the filter media 104 becomes sufficiently loaded or clogged withseed coating particulates, the whole cartridge 102 (with media 104 stillin the cartridge) can be easily replaced in the field by taking out thecurrent cartridge and replacing it with a new cartridge. Alternatively,the filter media itself can be replaced in the field and the cartridgere-used.

Referring now to FIGS. 17-21, another variation of hopper 12 is shown.Like that of FIGS. 2-4, the conventional screen 18 is in a verticalorientation and the airflow is in a horizontal direction across thescreen. The replacement filter cartridge assembly 100, comprising thecartridge 102 with media 104 disposed therein, replaces the screen 18,and the hopper 12 is otherwise unaltered.

The top cover 14 of the hopper 12, is removed as shown and the screen 18is removed by sliding it vertically upwards. Then, the filter assembly100 is slid downwards vertically with the flanges 21 following thegrooves in the cartridge as discussed previously herein. After thecartridge assembly 100 is fully seated in the hopper 12, the cover 14 issecured over the hopper and the seed planter is again ready for use.

FIG. 22 illustrates the additional feature of certain embodiments of thecartridge 102 where a top cover 140 is disposed over the open end of thecartridge 102. The cover 140 ensures that the filter media 104 stayssecured within the interior space of the cartridge 102. The cover 140can be latched on one side and hinged on another, or can be apress-friction fit. The cover can be a card plastic or a softer rubbermaterial with flexibility to snugly conform to the cartridge.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that theinvention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that manymodifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, suchscope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claimsso as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. Moreover,features or aspects of various example embodiments may be mixed andmatched (even if such combination is not explicitly described herein)without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An air filter assembly for seed hoppers of seedplanters, comprising: a filter cartridge, the filter cartridgecomprising: a front wall, the front wall defining a plurality ofapertures defined therein; a rear wall, the rear wall defining aplurality of apertures defined therein; a first solid end wall spanningbetween the front wall and the rear wall; a second solid end wallopposing the first solid end wall and spanning between the rear wall andthe front wall; a solid bottom side spanning between the front wall, therear wall, the first solid end and the second solid end; a top end isdefined opposite the solid bottom side by the intersection of the frontwall, the rear wall, the first solid end and the second solid end; andan interior space defined by the intersections of the front wall, therear wall, the first solid end, the second solid end, the solid bottomside and the top end; and a filter media disposed within the interiorspace.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a first channel is defined inthe first solid end wall which intersects the bottom side and extendstowards the top end, and wherein a second channel is defined in thesecond solid end wall which intersects the bottom side and extendstowards the top end.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein a third channelis defined in the bottom side which extends across the bottom side andintersects the first channel and the second channel.
 4. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the filter media is configured to filter seed coatingparticulates containing neonicotinoids out of an airstream flowingacross the filter media.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprisinga retaining lip extending horizontally inward from at least one of theintersections of the front wall, the rear wall, the first solid end andthe second solid end with the top end.
 6. The assembly of claim 1,wherein the cartridge comprises a cover disposed over the top end. 7.The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures in the frontwall and the rear wall each have the same shape and size.
 8. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures in the frontwall and the rear wall are both arrayed in a grid pattern.
 9. An airfilter assembly for seed hoppers of seed planters, comprising: a filtercartridge, the filter cartridge comprising: a bottom surface, the bottomsurface defining a plurality of apertures defined therein; a solid andcontinuous side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface around aperimeter of the bottom surface; a top side defined opposite the bottomsurface by the side wall; an interior space defined by the intersectionsof the bottom surface, side wall and the top side; and a first flangeextending outwardly horizontally from a portion of the side wall wherethe side wall intersects with the top side; and a filter media disposedwithin the interior space.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein thefilter media is configured to filter seed coating particulatescontaining neonicotinoids out of an airstream flowing across the filtermedia.
 11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the cartridge furthercomprises a support rib extending away from the side wall and contactingthe first flange.
 12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the cartridgefurther comprises a second flange located opposite the first flange andextending outwardly horizontally from the portion of the side wall wherethe side wall intersects with the top side.
 13. The assembly of claim 9,wherein the filter media meets ASHRAE standards.
 14. The assembly ofclaim 9, wherein the cartridge comprises a cover disposed over the topside.
 15. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of apertures inthe bottom surface are each the same shape and size.
 16. The assembly ofclaim 9, wherein the plurality of apertures in the bottom surface arearrayed in a grid pattern.
 17. A method of reducing neonicotinoidemissions from seed planters, comprising: removing a top cover of a seedhopper of a seed planter; inserting a filter cartridge into a portion ofthe interior of the seed hopper, the cartridge configured to directairflow within the hopper through the cartridge and though a filtermedia disposed in the cartridge; replacing the top cover of the seedhopper; operating the seed hopper to plant seeds; and capturingparticles of seed coating containing neonicotinoids by the filter mediafrom the airstream within the hopper.
 18. The method of claim 17,further comprising removing a separator screen from the seed hopperprior to the step of inserting the filter cartridge.
 19. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising engaging channels defined in the filtercartridge with protruding flanges defined within the seed hopper. 20.The method of claim 17, directing the airflow within the seed hopperthrough the filter media by blocking a portion of a top opening of theseed hopper.